Who are these options for?

Families mindful of allergens and cooking

If children will be eating the dish, check the allergens in every ingredient and make sure the fish is cooked through. Anses advises against giving young children raw, smoked or undercooked fish.

Families preparing a pie or quiche in advance

Frozen fillets let you keep the fish in the freezer until you’re ready to make a savoury filling. Check the storage and cooking instructions for the pack you choose.

Anyone looking for a quick filling

Cooked tinned mackerel can be flaked into a savoury dish. A plain version gives you more freedom to season the recipe than one that’s already in a sauce.

What should you check before buying?

For a savoury dish, first decide whether you need fillets to keep in the freezer and cook, or fish that’s already cooked in a tin. Then check the label of the product you choose, especially if children will be joining you for the meal.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Allergens and cooking Read the allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the pack. If the fish is raw, make sure it’s cooked through. If children are eating the quiche, I want to know the product’s allergens and serve the fish thoroughly cooked. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers concerned.
Storage and format Check whether it’s labelled “frozen”, whether the skin is left on, and what the storage and cooking instructions say. If I’m making a pie later, I need fillets I can keep in the freezer, not a tin. Around 33% of consumers put this storage need first.
Flavour and seasoning Compare the ingredients in plain and seasoned versions, especially if the recipe already includes its own herbs and spices. For puff pastry, I’d rather choose the seasoning myself than use a filling that’s already in a sauce. Flavour and ease of preparation come first for around 25% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing frozen fillets with tinned fish

    Tinned fillets are already cooked. They can be used in a quiche, but they’re not the right choice if you want to keep frozen fillets before cooking them.

    If keeping the fish in the freezer matters to you, look for the word “frozen” on the pack and read the cooking instructions.

  • Serving undercooked fish to young children

    Anses advises against giving young children raw, smoked or undercooked fish. In a thick pie, don’t judge whether the fish is cooked just by the colour of the pastry.

    Follow the product instructions and check that the fish is cooked through before serving.

  • Assuming every recipe contains the same allergens

    Mackerel contains fish. Picard’s frozen fillets also carry a warning that they may contain traces of crustaceans and molluscs. Seasoned tinned products may contain other ingredients to consider.

    Read the label on the exact product before cooking, even if you already know another version from the same brand.

  • Relying on cooking to make up for a break in the cold chain

    According to Anses, histamine that may develop in fish that hasn’t been stored properly is not destroyed by cooking or freezing.

    Follow the transport and storage instructions on the packaging, and don’t refreeze a product once it has thawed.

Brands to know when comparing formats

These products don’t all meet the same needs. Distinguish between frozen fillets that need cooking and tinned fish that’s already cooked before comparing the recipes.

Picard

Picard offers a 600 g pack of four frozen mackerel fillets with the skin on, which can be cooked from frozen.

  • The product information gives cooking methods and says to store at −18 °C.
  • The skin is left on. The label lists fish and warns that the product may contain traces of crustaceans and molluscs.

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour’s frozen mackerel fillets with the skin on come in a 500 g pack.

  • This product is a clear alternative to tinned mackerel.
  • Carrefour lists it as unavailable, so check stock before considering it as a purchase option.

Petit Navire

Petit Navire’s plain steamed mackerel fillets are a 110 g tin of ready-to-eat fish.

  • The ingredients listed are 99% mackerel fillets and salt.
  • This tin is not a substitute for frozen fillets that you can keep in the freezer before cooking.

Saupiquet

Saupiquet offers several tinned mackerel recipes, including plain, grilled and sauced varieties.

  • You can choose a recipe that’s already seasoned to suit your savoury filling.
  • Check the ingredients for each variety. A seasoned recipe will give you a different result from plain fillets.

Auchan

Auchan offers a 120 g tin of plain mackerel fillets.

  • The ingredients listed are 99% mackerel fillets and salt.
  • The product information says to refrigerate after opening and eat within two days. These aren’t frozen fillets.

E.Leclerc / Pêche Océan / ECO+

These tinned mackerel products include recipes that are already seasoned, including one with white wine.

  • A seasoned recipe can work well when its ingredients are already a good fit for your filling.
  • The ECO+ white wine recipe lists sulphites. Check the label before serving it to anyone who needs to avoid them.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is frozen mackerel suitable for cooking with children?

Yes, for a savoury dish such as a quiche, pie or puff pastry, as long as the fish is cooked through before it’s eaten. Anses advises against giving young children raw, smoked or undercooked fish. Mackerel’s strong flavour also makes it unsuitable for a sweet dessert.

Do you need to thaw the fillets before making the quiche?

It depends on the product instructions. Picard says its frozen fillets with the skin on can be cooked from frozen. Follow the cooking instructions on your pack and make sure the fish is cooked through before serving.

Which allergens should you check in a mackerel recipe?

First check for fish, then look for any warnings about traces and other ingredients listed on the exact product packaging. Picard’s frozen fillets warn that they may contain traces of crustaceans and molluscs, while the ECO+ white wine tin lists sulphites.

Can plain tinned mackerel replace frozen fillets in a pie?

It can be used as a ready-cooked filling and flaked into the pie, but it won’t replace fillets that you can keep in the freezer and cook later. Check the ingredients too: plain tinned fish and a recipe in sauce will add different ingredients to your pie.